The more I work with horses and people the more I learn about each.
This is the Fourth in a series of articles I would like to write about some of the things we teach to help in our relationship with our horses, as well as with each other and what we can learn from our creator.
We use 4 keywords in our teaching: Confidence, Consistency, Compassion and Connection.
CONFIDENCE: faith or belief that one will act in a right, proper & effective way CONSISTENCY: uniform or persistent occurrence or re-occurrence COMPASSION: involves tenderness & understanding CONNECTION: a union, to join, link or bond Working with the horses in the round pen is one of the first places we get connection but that only comes with trust and a willingness to come to us.
There are a number of terms for this -- one we hear is "join up" when as you turn your shoulder the horse will come up beside you.
Personally I like to open up my arms and have the horse come directly to me dropping his head in front of me for me to reach out and touch, rub and praise him.
This action seems to demonstrate a much greater connection because of my openness to the horse-- they are willing to come to me relaxed, trusting and we could say humbly with head bowed because of my compassion or humbleness - two humble souls connecting.
Doesn't this hold true with our relationships with each other? Openness with humility and compassion (tenderness and understanding) in our relationships brings honesty and trust, and then it is not about us but about the other person.
Pride is the wall that breaks relationships down.
Peter knew all about pride and Jesus worked hard to help him become a humble servant.
1 Peter 5:5says "Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older.
All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
" NIV Do you think Peter got it? There is no room for Pride in real love - God's love 1 Corinthians 13:4 "Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
" NIV There are different terms used for humility in the bible - I am told that there is no word in the Hebrew to describe humility - some of the terms we see are depressed, modest, down trodden, low estate, poor, and contrite heart.
God is quoted in Isaiah 66:2"For My hand made all these things, thus all these things came into being," declares the LORD.
"But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.
" Let's go back to the round pen - when we open up our arms to the horse waiting for him to make the choice to come to us without resistance, willingly - we are receptive to that - when the horse is running high headed looking for an escape route neither of us are ready for connection.
I believe God is saying this -- when you get rid of your pride and bow down to Me in humility ready to submit to Me, trusting me, then my arms are ready, then I will turn and look at you and connect with you as you come to Me ready for Me to reach out and touch you and praise you.
Jesus understood this Hebrews 5:7 7 "During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
" Use your time with your horse to learn about people!
This is the Fourth in a series of articles I would like to write about some of the things we teach to help in our relationship with our horses, as well as with each other and what we can learn from our creator.
We use 4 keywords in our teaching: Confidence, Consistency, Compassion and Connection.
CONFIDENCE: faith or belief that one will act in a right, proper & effective way CONSISTENCY: uniform or persistent occurrence or re-occurrence COMPASSION: involves tenderness & understanding CONNECTION: a union, to join, link or bond Working with the horses in the round pen is one of the first places we get connection but that only comes with trust and a willingness to come to us.
There are a number of terms for this -- one we hear is "join up" when as you turn your shoulder the horse will come up beside you.
Personally I like to open up my arms and have the horse come directly to me dropping his head in front of me for me to reach out and touch, rub and praise him.
This action seems to demonstrate a much greater connection because of my openness to the horse-- they are willing to come to me relaxed, trusting and we could say humbly with head bowed because of my compassion or humbleness - two humble souls connecting.
Doesn't this hold true with our relationships with each other? Openness with humility and compassion (tenderness and understanding) in our relationships brings honesty and trust, and then it is not about us but about the other person.
Pride is the wall that breaks relationships down.
Peter knew all about pride and Jesus worked hard to help him become a humble servant.
1 Peter 5:5says "Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older.
All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
" NIV Do you think Peter got it? There is no room for Pride in real love - God's love 1 Corinthians 13:4 "Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
" NIV There are different terms used for humility in the bible - I am told that there is no word in the Hebrew to describe humility - some of the terms we see are depressed, modest, down trodden, low estate, poor, and contrite heart.
God is quoted in Isaiah 66:2"For My hand made all these things, thus all these things came into being," declares the LORD.
"But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.
" Let's go back to the round pen - when we open up our arms to the horse waiting for him to make the choice to come to us without resistance, willingly - we are receptive to that - when the horse is running high headed looking for an escape route neither of us are ready for connection.
I believe God is saying this -- when you get rid of your pride and bow down to Me in humility ready to submit to Me, trusting me, then my arms are ready, then I will turn and look at you and connect with you as you come to Me ready for Me to reach out and touch you and praise you.
Jesus understood this Hebrews 5:7 7 "During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
" Use your time with your horse to learn about people!